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I've come to a point in my life where I need a vacation. My first vacation to be precise. I've been saving up for a trip for a little while now, and I'm nearing the point where I can actually go somewhere. I've chosen to go to Baltimore, Maryland. I'm from the Twin Cities and Baltimore seems to be about the same size, and in my comfort zone. All that I know about the city of Baltimore comes from watching food shows and The Wire. I've become somewhat enamored with the food culture and would like to check out some quality, local, and somewhat exotic food. What would be some classic joints to check out to get a true Baltimore experience? Pit beef and crab joints are right up my alley. Are there any craft breweries or good beer bars that would be worth checking out? I'm set on exploring some of the more well-known stops like the National Aquarium and Science Center, and a few other places that I've read about on the generic travelling websites. What would be some interesting sites to explore that are off the beaten path that have unique characteristics? Any info and advice is very appreciated.
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 06:29 |
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| # ? May 25, 2013 11:27 |
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I'd recommend the Paper Moon Diner for breakfast or lunch, it has just about the strangest decor you'll ever find and the food is excellent. Very kitschy, very Baltimore. You should also definitely check out the Inner Harbor, but you probably shouldn't eat anywhere near there, everything there is bland and expensive. Be sure and go to the top of the Baltimore World Trade Center (the world's tallest pentagonal skyyscraper), it has an amazing view of the city.
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 15:46 |
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I lived in Baltimore for a couple years, and know the city pretty well. If you stay within a block of Charles st. (the main road running north-south), you won't see much of anything that reminds you of the Wire, and that's a good thing. I'm not saying you'll get robbed or killed if you cross some imaginary line, but it's a distinct possibility. Stay close to Charles. As for "cultural" experience in Baltimore, I would head to 36th in Hampden, which is just NW of the Johns Hopkins campus. It's the living beating heart of "hon" culture. There's even an Hon Bar and Hon Cafe. There are a handful of interesting restaurants, shops and it's a decent enough neighborhood. Also check out Mt. Vernon, which has some nice museums, and really great architecture. A whole slew of restaurants just south on Charles st, too.
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| # ? Mar 10, 2013 18:19 |
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Paper Moon Cafe is great for lunch, definitely check it out. Go to Faidley's in Lexington Market for some good crab lunch, I imagine Minnesota doesn't have any markets quite like that place. If you want a really nice dinner on the harbor one night, Rusty Scupper is top notch and has great views. Clipper City/Heavy Seas is a local brewery but I can't remember if it's brewed in the city, definitely try it out though. Have a Natty Boh/National Bohemian if you want a taste of the "working class beer." Walters Art Museum I believe is free. Red Emma's is an "anarchist bookstore" on St. Paul (one street over from the aforementioned Charles Street). There is the Maryland Science Center at the harbor. There is the Babe Ruth House and possibly another baseball oriented museum around there. There is also tours at Fort McHenry and I believe possibly Under Armour. As it's been said before, Hon Culture is up in Hampden and to a lesser extent around the JHU campus in Charles Village and Waverly. If you want to relive college, Fed Hill, Locust Point, Canton, and Fells Point are all pretty happening places. Mount Vernon is more artsy. Baltimore Street downtown has all the sleaze you could ever want. Greektown and Little Italy are both really small and I'm not sure if they have much left to them. Patterson Park is pretty nice to walk around and people come from all over to use it. The Johns Hopkins Medical Center is actually down in the southeast part of the city, away from the main campus. You can also check out the original Washington Monument on Charles Street, there's a nice little park around there A personal favorite restaurant of mine is The Helmand in Mount Vernon. Afghan food is pretty tasty and it's owned by the brother of Hamid Karzai. If you really want, you can also look up "The Wire Tour" online and visit those places. I've been to a bunch of them but if you're on a limited time budget, there are better things to do. If you do end up driving through the hood, nothing will happen to you like The Wire might implicate. I'm down in those areas weekly and still alive.  Honestly, much of the best architecture in the city is in the destroyed neighborhoods.Wiki list of Baltimore museums Events in the city. In the summer there is at least one cultural festival per weekend in the city but I don't think the dates are up yet however there are some things up.
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| # ? Mar 11, 2013 00:18 |
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Favorite crab cake (outside the city center though: http://gandmcrabcakes.com/ I second the Helmand, if you like that sort of thing. There are also a ton of other ethnic restaurants in Mt. Vernon around there, just walk along Charles Street. As far as nightlife: Power Plant: Vegas-esque party scene. Geared more towards tourists and county people, but locals go there every now and again. Fed Hill: 18-15 age range, party scene. It can get pretty ridiculous on Friday and Saturday nights on Cross Street. Fells Point: Lots of sit down pubs, live music, more chill feel to it. Canton: 25-35 age range, kind of a combination of Fells and Fed Hill. Mt. Vernon/Charles Village: Hipster, gay and artsy scenes are generally in this area, but there are exceptions.
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| # ? Mar 11, 2013 22:58 |
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Random comments from a native Baltimoron:
I just saw you had some specific questions, I would see about going to the Heavy Seas brewery. You could either get crabcakes somewhere, or go baltimore-style and get a couple dozen (depending on if you are in a group or whatever) steamed crabs and go to town with some corn on the cob and natty boh. You can get crabcakes wherever but this is the way to do crabs here. If you want lots of beer selection look to Max's taphouse in Fells Point. All in all it's a great place, a city of many neighborhoods, easy to walk if you're not going crosstown, and it really is Charm loving City as long as you stay away from tourist traps like power plant and inner harbor restaurants. Check out the Circulator for free bus routes between most interesting neighborhoods. Infinotize fucked around with this message at Mar 12, 2013 around 05:18 |
| # ? Mar 12, 2013 05:11 |
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The area around Patterson Park was the highlight of my childhood. You haven't been to Baltimore if you haven't been to Patterson Park and visited the pagoda!  I would also recommend going to the Sip 'n' Bite at 3 o'clock in the morning to see what you can see. At least, that's what I always did as a teenager.  The absolute best way to tour Baltimore is to get my grandfather (born in South Baltimore, 1926, has lived his whole life as a Baltimoron) with you to tell stories about every building you pass along the way, but unfortunately he's not for hire. tacodaemon fucked around with this message at May 3, 2013 around 02:17 |
| # ? May 3, 2013 02:13 |
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| # ? May 25, 2013 11:27 |
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Also, to complete the authentic Baltimore experience you have to stop in to a Royal Farms convenience store at least once and order some hot food from the touchscreen terminal. The western fries are a guilty pleasure of mine.
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| # ? May 3, 2013 02:24 |
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